In 2011, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber faced a vexing problem: The state had a $2 billion hole in its Medicaid budget and no good way to fill it.
He could cut doctors’ pay by 40 percent, but that might lead to them quitting Medicaid altogether. He could drop patients or benefits, but that would only compound costs in the long run. A former emergency room doctor, Kitzhaber remembers culling the Medicaid rolls in the 1980s, when he served as a state senator.
Read the full story: http://wapo.st/10lDp30
Source: The Washington Post
Stuck in Prior Auth Purgatory: The Hidden Costs of Health Care Delays
June 19th 2025Delays, denials, and endless paperwork—prior authorization isn’t just a headache for providers; it’s a barrier for patients who need timely care, explains Colin Banas, MD, MHA, chief medical officer with DrFirst.
Listen
Democratic Doctors Caucus Reaffirms EMTALA Amid Trump's CMS Policy Reversal on Abortion Care
June 18th 2025Democratic leaders assert the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) remains vital for emergency care, countering confusion from recent policy changes affecting abortion rights and patient safety.
Read More